Barbara Gilmore

Answering The Call of the Camino de Santiago Barbara Gilmore

The French Route of the Camino de Santiago is a historical hiking trail that begins in the picturesque town of Saint John Pied de Port, France and ends in Santiago, Spain. Pilgrims have been hiking the 800-kilometer, 500-mile trail for centuries. Answering The Call of the Camino de Santiago is the personal story of one woman who was looking for an adventure, and once she learned about The Camino, as it is commonly known, she couldn't stop thinking about the possibility of becoming a Camino pilgrim. Planning, self-doubt, and second-guessing herself soon took a back seat to the possibility of living out her dream. She overcame the fear of hiking solo, and six months later, with shear determination, she left the comforts of her home in Southern California for Europe. Two planes, two taxis, and a 3-hour train ride later, she arrived in SJPdP, France to begin the journey of a lifetime. Learning everything about the historical pilgrimage was one thing, but no photograph, no description could prepare her for the simplicity and the beauty of the Camino de Santiago. Nothing could prepare her for the mental and physical challenges, and the self-doubt that threatened to end her dream of completing the journey. The call of the Camino was too strong to ignore. Answering it would result in one woman's self-discovery and spiritual journey of a lifetime.